Volunteer: Wardrobe - Smart Works Charity

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*Please be aware that this is a rolling advert. We are not always actively recruiting for this opportunity but will be in touch if your application is of interest/when we next recruit.*

About Smart Works

Smart Works is a dynamic, high profile and fast-growing UK charity that dresses, coaches and empowers unemployed women for success at their job interview. After visiting Smart Works, 69% of clients secure a job within a month.

The Smart Works service is delivered in 11 centres across the UK. Over the past ten years, Smart Works has helped over 35,000 women. It is our mission that any woman who needs our service should be able to find her way to a Smart Works centre. More information about who we are can be found on our website.

Across London Smart Works currently has three centres in Ladbroke Grove, Croydon and Islington. The team are currently recruiting wardrobe volunteers for the South and West London centres.

About the opportunity

The Smart Works wardrobe is at the heart of the dressing service. Each client receives a professional, boutique dressing experience, where they choose an outfit that makes them feel confident and ready to take on their interview. Stock is generously donated from the public, corporate partners and retail partners such as Burberry, Hobbs, Whistles, John Lewis, M&S and more.

Wardrobe Volunteers help keep the wardrobe looking amazing and well-kept for clients, with a selection of high-quality clothing for interviews. They will also support with a calendar of pop-up fashion sales throughout the year.

Volunteers can attend to a wide range of exclusive events including VIP preview evenings of pop-up fashion sales, volunteer socials and access to monthly volunteer forums and training. You will become part of a supportive and buzzing Smart Works community, consisting of 40 staff and 300 volunteers across three London centres.

This opportunity would be perfect for anyone who has a passion for clothes and sees fashion as a force for good.

Key Activities

• Processing various clothing donations from retail partners, clothing drives and individuals.
• Preparing stock to a high standard through sorting and steaming, so that our clients receive high-quality and excellent condition clothing to help fill them with confidence.
• Organising the client wardrobe and keeping processing areas tidy.
• Visual merchandising and ensuring that all items are hung correctly and located in the wardrobe in line with the wardrobe guidelines.
• Dressing mannequins and display stands.
• Stock management and replenishment.
• Prepping product for pop-up fashion sales and ticketing items.
• Involvement in running of pop-up shops located in Covent Garden, Bicester Village, Carnaby Street and at other pop-up fashion sales.
• Some manual handling in the form of moving boxes of product (full training is provided).

Skills you should have

• Good attention to detail.
• Great listening skills and the ability to empathise with individuals from a variety of backgrounds.
• Strong organisational skills.
• The ability to work well as a part of a team from a range different backgrounds and experiences.
• An awareness of fashion brands (desirable but not essential).
• A passion for the Smart Works mission and using fashion as a force for good.

Benefits of volunteering

• Using your knowledge and skills to help women feel more confident before they enter the workplace and make a positive difference to the lives of our clients.
• Meeting people from a range of backgrounds and making new friends who have a shared passion for helping others.
• Joining our monthly UK wide virtual volunteer forums to meet individuals across the charity and receive training opportunities to help you learn new skills.
• Early access to our pop-up fashion sales, where we have stock spanning across pre-loved, vintage and designer pieces, all up to 70% off RRP.

How to apply

To apply, please submit an application via our recruitment portal here and we will be in touch if your application is of interest.

Your application should be addressed to Alex Codrington, Smart Works Charity.